Railway signal system.



3.. B BAVIS RAILWAY SWELL SYSTEM. I APPLIGATIBE FILED NOV: 3, 1907.

$11,118. Patented Feb.2,19( )9.

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RAILWAY SIGNAL SYSTEM. 121 1101111011 FILED NOV. 8, 1901.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Jive/275% o ar wjao'a R. B. DAVIS.- RAILWAY SIGNAL SYSTEM. APPLIOATIOH FILED NOV. 8. 1907.

91 1 1 1 8. Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

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r m in B- ewe OF we N CALIFORNIA, Assreuoa or oNEnALF TO WILLIAM K.

' MA$N, O IENTE, NEVADA.

RAILWAY SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. .2, 1909.

Application filed November 8, 1907. 'Serial No. 401,207.

To all whom itmwy concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD B. DAVIS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in RailwaySignal Systems,

switch, and will quickly resume its normal position upon the release of the switch so that successive blasts of the whistle may follow each other quickly. I

A further obj ect is to provide a system which may be easily ut on a car not permanently equi ped wit the same sothat the "signal whist e may be blown from any point 25 on the train. a k

I accomplish these objects bymeans of the device described herein and illustratedin the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1,--1s' a fragmentary view of a train showing diagrammatically the disposition of the different parts of the apparatus for my system thereon and the electric connectin cables therefor. Fig. 2,-is a central vertica section ofthe whistle valve. Fig. 3,.- -is a diagrammatic detail of one of the car switches. Fig. 4,is a diagrammatic detail of one-of the car push buttons and the connectionstherefor; Figs. 2 and 4 combined illustrating diagrammatically, the electrical operation ofthe system. Fig. 5,is a perspective detail partly insection of a hose coupling between, adjacent cars showing diagrammaticallythe passage of the connecting An object of my invention is to provide auick acting electrically operated valve for. t e whistle which will blow thewhistle im. mediately upon the operation of a signal.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1 10 designates a locomotive provided with a tender 11. Immediately behind tender 11 a baggage car 12 is illustrated, the drawing of the samebein'gbroken oil in. the upper part of Fig. 1 and continued in the lower art thereof. 3 Behind the baggage car the ront end of a passenger car 13 is illustrated.

Located in cab 14 of locomotive 101s a whistle yalve 15- connected by pipe 16 to main reservoir 17 of the-locomotive. Wires 18'lead fro'mwhistle valve 15 and a battery 1.? is connected in circuit with one of the wires, this battery furnishing the necessary current for the operation of the. whistle valve. Vfires 18 are then run together in a cord 20 which passes rearwardly along the train, connectm between cars on the air brake hose coup ings and running up into the bagwardly from the baggage car cable 20 passes this construction being repeated for every car in the train. Located 1n the baggage car able intervals are which are adapted y their operation to close crate whistle valve 15 to blow the whist e. Also connected with cable 20 in the passenger accidental injury. Mounted iniscrewthreadover desk .21 and in the passenger car at suitpendent-push buttons 22.

magnet and affords it protection from any a e car as shown in Fi 1. Passin rearinto passenger car 13,and through the same,

the circuit between wires 18 and thereby o car is a switch 23 adapted tojbe operated by a passenger car, taking the place 0 the usual inverted U shaped iram'e26 which is'seoured 3 ed engagement in a circular boss 34cm base I cbnnecting an equipped car to an unwires through the same. Fig. 6,is a view similar to a portionof Fig. 1 showing a modified form of connection between the cars for connecting a car not equipped with my systern to a car equipped with the same. Fig. 7 ,-is aperspective view of the connecting cord and fixtures used to temporarily provide a carwithmysystem; Fig. 8,is an -enlarged detail of the endof an equipped car shogwing diagrammatically the, connectionslate 27 is a vertical.cy1inder28eXtending a spring supportingcap 29 on its lower end.

A screw threaded lug-30 which closes the upper end of cylin or 28 is provideolwith a central vertical bore 31 ads. ted to receive a vertically movable valve ro 32 which carries 195 on its upper end a circular armature-33 for magmas; Boss '34 which surrounds c'ylinr 'dier '28 is provided with an air inlet 35 in which air pipe 16 leading from main reservoir 17 is adapted to be screwed. A' circular port. '36:

65 equipped car.

ownwardly from the base plateand carrying 49 in which whistle 50. is mounted.

j of the piston passes port 48 the I This leak diameter at its lower end I .tween a slidable in circuit with wires 18 and th thereby cut off.

space above the piston to blow whistle 50 for an appreciable period of time, piston 40 gradually moving ton 4O downwardly,

leads aroundcylinder 28 and communicates with inlet 35. Plug 30 is also provided with a circular port 37 around valve rod 32 which communicates with ort 36 by means of bore 38 so that the air ed into circular ort 36 immediately asses into ort od 32.is provided wit a longitu inal port 39 consisting of a circular groove which extends for some distance along its length 10- and is normally in the relative osition shown in 1 ig. 2'. Loosely surrounding rod 32 and fitting closely in the bore of cylinder 28 is a piston 40 which issupported in the position illustrated by a spiral s ring 41 resting at its lower end on cap 29. ltod 32 is reduced in as at 42 and is provided with a coiled spring 43 surrounding the reduced portion, the spring being held bewasher 44 bearing against shoulder 45 and adjusting, nut 46 on the lower end of rod- 32.

1n the operation of the whistle valve the circiiit throu 'h battery 19 and electro-magnet 25 is close by means of any of the switches e magnets are thereby energized to attract armature 33 which rises, carrying valve rod 32 with it. Ports 39 are thereb brought into register with port 37 and air is admitted into them to pass downwardly into a cup shaped depression 47 in the upper end of cylinder 40. Piston 40 is thereby forced downwardly against the ressure of spring 41 until the upper edge of tie piston uncoyers a circular port 48 m cylinder 28 which leads to an outlet 0 ening uring this pasaage the bottom of piston'40 strikes washer 44 and spring 43 is thereby compressed, providing magnet 25 has not yet been denergized. If the magnet has been dehergized rod 32 is forced downwardly into its normal position as illustrated and the supply of air to the space above piston 40 is Enough air has entered the upwardly as the air above it passes out through the whistle. After the top air above the piston quickly lealrs out between the piston and rod 32 through aleak port 32 out in rod 32 so that the piston resumes its normal position. port is of such a length that the passage therethrough is cut off when the piston is in its lower position and 0 en when in its upper position as shown. 11 case the magnet is energized for a longer period of time than is consumed in the passage of pisthe whistle is blown until the magnet is detnergized and armature 3 3 'forced downwardly by the action of s ring 43 which piston 40 compresses on its ownward movement. Piston 40 then moves upwardly as before and cuts oil the supply 0 air to the whistle.

By means of the above described whistle valve it will be seen that the whistle will be 0 erated by even an instantaneous closure of t e electrical circuit through the magnet. Closure means for the circuit of wires 18' are provided in each of the cars and com rise in the majority of cases a pendent push utton 22 which is'connected by wires. 56 across wires 18, the individual ush buttons being all in multi le with eac other. Wires {56 are preferab y formed into cords 57 which support push button 22 from cord 20 which passes through the cars. Another form of closure for the circuit is shown in diagram matic detail in l: ig. 3 and consists of a switch 23 provided with two contacts 58 connected by wires 59 to wires 18 of cord 20. These contacts are also connected across wires 18 and in multiplewith ushbutton 22. A ivoted arm 60 normally l ield in the position 1 lustrated by a spring 61, is adapted to connect with contact 58 and form a connection between the same upon a pull being exerted on cord 24 which passes through the car as before stated. Thus, upon the closure of any of the push buttons or the switch just described, the'whistle valve will be operated to blow the whistle for a length of time which the period of closure of thecircuit determines. If a signal of a plurality of blasts is used the successive closures of the circuit may follow closely on each other as the valve resumes its normal position very quickly and thereby cuts oh the supply of air to the whistle.

n Fig. 5 1 have illustrated a method of connecting the wires of cord 20 between the cars which consists in forming suitable contacts on the hose couplings so that when the air brake hose is coupled u the electrical connections are automatical y made. To this end wires 18 are wound around the air brake hose 76 in the walls thereof as shown in Fig. 5 and are passed through coupling fixture 70, one of the wires being connected to contact plate 71 while the other is connected to contact late 72 set in the face of the coupling as il ustrated. These contact plates are insulated from the metallic body of the coupling fixture and are ada ted to contact with a corresponding set of p ates 73 and 74 on coupling fixtures 75 which is an exact counterpart of fixture 70. Wires 18 on the other side of the cou ling connect with plates 73 and 74 and lead out through the coupling to run through hose 77 which leads to the next car. By means of thus making connections between adjacent cars the extra trouble and labor of making a separate connection for the signal system is done away with and the signalsystem is automatically connected up at the same time that the air system is connected. 'In Fig. 6 I have illustrated the method of connecting a car equipped with my system to a"car not so eqmpped. To this end the front and rear ends of. every car equipped with my system are provided with sockets 80 which are connected to wires 18 by branch wires 81, these sockets being connectedare connected across these wires.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a form of portable cord by which a car not equipped with my system may be quickly and efficiently equipped with the same. A cord 82 is provided which carries two wires 83 corresponding to wires 18 as before explained. .This cord 82 is long enough to reach completely through a car-from end to end and is provi ed with a plug 84 on one end and a socket 85 on the otherL Plug 84 is connected to wires 83 and is adapted to be inserted in socket 80 so as to form an electrical connection between wires 81 and wires'83. The cord is carried through the car, having pendent cords 86 carrying wires 87 which connect with push buttons 88 of a construction similar to the one before described, and by an operation of any of these push buttons the circuit across wires 83 will be closed thereby operating the signal whistle in the manner described. As before stated one end of cord 82 is provided with a socket 85 which is adapted to connect with the plug 84 of an adjacent car if that a similar temporary cord. In case the adjacent car is one provided with my system a double ended'plug 89 is inserted in socket 8-5 which plug is adapted. to fit into asocket 80 on the adjacent car.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that l have provided a system which efficiently replaces the usual air signal syste m of railway trains and which in every particular operates more efficiently than the air system. This efiiciency is especially noted in the speed of' action of the system, it not being necessary to pause between successive closures of the circuit in order to allow the signal valve to return to its normal position. This speed of action is mainly effected by means of the electrical operation \oQhe valve as the valve is instantly moved on closure of the circuit instead of being coloperated after an elapse of time fora slow reduction in usually the case.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 1. A train signal, comprising a pair of electrical conductors passing through the cars of a train; means in the cars to close the circuit between said conductors; a source of electric'al energy interposed in the circuit of saidacross wires 18 just as the diiferent switches car is also providedwith the train line pressure as is I comprising a gig wires; and electro-magnetic means for operating a pneumatic signal, comprising a cylinder; a resiliently supported piston in said cylinder; an electro-magnet and movable armature therefor; a slide valve connected to said armature and adapted to admit air to said cylinder above said piston, said cylinder being provided with a port connectin with the pneumatic signal,-said port ada te" to be uncovered by the movement of said piston.

2. In a train signal, electro-magnetic means for operating a pneumatic signal, comprising a frame; an armature movably mounted on, said 'frame means for moving said armature; a fluid pressure controlling valve connected to said armature; a cylinder; and a piston in said cylinder adapted to be moved by fluid pressure from said valve,said cylinder being provided with a signal port adapted to be uncovered by the movement of said piston.

3. In a device of the class described, elec tro-magnetic. means for ofperating a pneumatic signal comprising a rame; an electromagnet mounted in said frame; a cylinder mounted on said frame; a spring supported piston insaid cylinder; an armature for said magnet movably mounted in said frame; and a slide valve connected to said armature and ada ted to admit air to said cylinder above sai piston upon the energization of said magnet, said cylinder being provided with a port below the upper face of said iston connecte ing with the pneumatic signa 4. A fluid pressure signal operating means, cylinder having an outlet" port in one of its walls, a piston in said cylinder adapted to uncover said port by its move ment, a valve ada ted to admit fluid'pressure to said cylinder and electro-magnetic means to operate said valve.

5. A train signal, comprising an electrical circuit passing through the cars of a train, meansin the cars to close said circuit, a source ofelectrical energy in said circuit, and electro-magnetic means in said circuit to operate a fluid pressure signal, comprising a cylinder having a signal port in its wall, a piston in said cylinder adapted to uncover said port by its movement, a valve to admit fluid pressure to said cylinder, and electro- .magnetic means to operate said valve.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th day 'of October, 1907.

RICHARD B. DAVIS.

Witnesses TRIMBLE BARKELEW, OLLIE PALMER. 

